Anti-Sikh riot-hit families take out rally in C'garh

The families have petitioned against the authorities' 'apathetic attitude' in releasing the central grant.

Over 100 families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took out a rally inChandigarhon Monday and petitioned Punjab Governor and UT Administrator General (retd) SF Rodrigues against the authorities' "apathetic attitude" in releasing the central grant of Rs two lakh for each family.

"Nearly 125 riot-affected families are living in Chandigarh after migrating to Punjab and the UT administration has got our verification done. But it expresses its inability to disburse the grant saying it is not competent to do so as it has received no directions in this regard from the Centre.

The concerned authorities in Punjab too have expressed their inability saying UT will handle the claims," 1984 Danga Peerit Society, Chandigarh, general secretary Ravinder Singh told reporters here after submitting a memorandum to the Governor in this regard.

When contacted, Director (Delhi), Ministry of Home Affairs (Relief and Rehabilitation), IB Karan said over phone that since the affected families had initially migrated to Punjab and got their Red Cards made from the state, the state's authorities would be in a better position to handle their case.

"We will soon be instructing the Punjab Government to release the grant to the affected families settled in Chandigarh. Though Punjab Government had written to us that UT should be advised to settle their claims, but we feel that since Punjab Government is having all the records, they would be in a better position to handle this," he said.